Evaluating Surface Water Quality in Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate water quality in the canals in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city in the period of 2018-2019. Monitoring data were collected at 10 locations distributed on Tham Tuong canal (TT1, TT2), Cai Khe canal (CK1-CK4), Bun Xang lake (BX1-BX2), Cai Son - Hang Bang canal (HB1, HB2). Water quality parameters assessed include temperature, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), orthophosphate (PO₄ ^3--P), nitrate (NO₃ ^-- N), ammonia (NH₄ ⁺-N), nitrite (NO₂ ^-- N) and coliforms. The results showed that water quality in the canals in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city were contaminated with coliforms, TSS, BOD, and COD. The temperature and pH parameters were very little fluctuated, while BOD, coliforms, and DO tended to decrease in the period from 2018-2019. Particularly, the  mean P-PO₄ ^3- in 2019 was higher than that in 2018. BOD, COD, TSS, P-PO₄ ^3-, and coliforms in Tham Tuong canal were higher than those in other water bodies because several production and business activities are taking place. Water pollution problem in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city needs to be solved as soon as possible to ensure healthy environment, attracting tourists to visit in Can Tho city.

Keywords: water quality, pollution, microorganisms, organic matters, suspended solids, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho